#26

Xavier Williams

RB · Iowa · Fr. · #26

Returning to Iowa for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Xavier Williams

RB · Iowa · Fr · #26

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#1000 national
CFB
College
Iowa
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Iowa9-4HC: Kirk Ferentz · Run-heavy, slow tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Iowa492855.83--
Career492855.83--
SeasonTeam
2025Iowa7436.10--
Career7436.10--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 18 · 2025

W 34–27

at Vanderbilt

25 rush yds (5 car)

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 7 on the road.

How he plays

Play style

Hits the crease and outruns the angle.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Iowa

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Running back · Iowa

Returning around him

  • 49% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
  • 7 Iowa players drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: +7 net (15 in / 8 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Iowa · Last season: 9-4 · Talent rank #42 · 2026 recruiting class #26

DNA match

Player DNA

Speed Merchant

Cuts upfield fast. Designed to find the crease, not run through the line.

RB

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Antario Brown’s 2021 season.

Northern Illinois · 2021

#2

Jameson Williams

Ohio State · 2021

1st-team All-AmericanNFL Rd 1 · Pk 12
64%
#3

Tahj Brooks

Texas Tech · 2021

NFL Rd 6
63%
#4

Cornell Hatcher Jr.

Oregon State · 2025

61%
#5

Savion Red

Nevada · 2024

60%

Matches Antario on

Yards / carry
EPA / carry (adj)
Weight

Differs from Antario on

Class year (lower)
Total rush EPA (college ability) (lower)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Cornell Hatcher Jr.'s freshman season at Oregon State (2025).

Oregon State · 2025

#2

Girard Pringle Jr.

Miami · 2025

65%
#3

King Miller

USC · 2025

64%
#4

Kadarius Calloway

Old Dominion · 2023

64%
#5

Bo Jackson

Ohio State · 2025

All-Big Ten
62%

Matches Cornell on

Yards / carry
Receiving share

Differs from Cornell on

Yards / reception (higher)
Rush TD rate (higher)
Weight (higher)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman futures · sportsbook market

#21 in market ▼ from #18 · 6 books

+40002.4% implied▼ lengthened from +3000

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #537

Final rank
#544
Avg #598.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #537 this season.